The flat palms are directed
towards the person who causes this feeling, and the straightened
fingers are separated. This gesture is represented by
Mr. Rejlander in Plate VII. fig. 1. In the `Last Supper,'
by Leonardo da Vinci, two of the Apostles have their hands
half uplifted, clearly expressive of their astonishment.
A trustworthy observer told me that he had lately met his wife
under most unexpected circumstances: "She started, opened her mouth
and eyes very widely, and threw up both her arms above her head."
Several years ago I was surprised by seeing several of my young
children earnestly doing something together on the ground;
but the distance was too great for me to ask what they were about.
Therefore I threw up my open hands with extended fingers above my head;
and as soon as I had done this, I became conscious of the action.
I then waited, without saying a word, to see if my children
had understood this gesture; and as they came running to me
they cried out, "We saw that you were astonished at us."
I do not know whether this gesture is common to the various
races of man, as I neglected to make inquiries on this head.
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